Justice Minister to investigate NGO foreign funding case

Justice Minister Adel Abdel Hamid is carrying out extensive investigations on the NGO foreign funding case and will request that judges consider complaints submitted against Judge Abdel MoezIbrahim, head of the Cairo Court of Appeal.  A The 43 civil society workers who are defendants in the case, including 16 Americans with the rest being Egyptians and other nationalities, have been accused of stoking unrest with foreign funding. Seven of the Americans had a travel ban imposed on them. The US posted almost $5 million in bail and the ban was lifted. Egypt's newly elected parliament said earlier it would question the prime minister on March 11 over the reasons behind lifting the travel ban and whether the judges looking into the case came under political pressure. Local newspapers reported that lawyers have filed independent suits against Egypt's military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and other officials accusing them of collaborating in helping the Americans to flee justice. Outrage about a suspected deal flared after three judges presiding over the case abruptly pulled out on Tuesday citing "uneasiness". The head judge Mohammed Shoukry hinted in interviews with Egyptian dailies that he was subject to pressure. A memorandum explaining the reasons behind the judges withdrawal is expected. Senior judge Abdel-Moez Ibrahim said in a state TV interview that Shoukry's son was asked to step down because he had partners who worked for the US Embassy, and this could make it difficult for him to judge the case impartially. Shurky denies that his son works with anyone linked to employees at the US Embassy. Hamid, via a press statement as he was attending a conference with the French Justice Minister, said it has not been proven yet if there was any external pressure on the case, and that he was awaiting Shoukry's memo. The justice minister stated that if any if it was found that undue pressure had been put on the people involved in the case, he would warrant a full investigation. "The judicial authority is independent," he said. Hamid claimed the decision to lift the travel ban on the defendants was "precautionary". As for the two judges of the case, he said that he had not officially received a memo from either of them adding that it would not be if his jurisdiction but that of the Cairo Court of Appeal. He confirmed that his role in constituting a committee to investigate the case was represented in a request submitted to the Court of Appeal, which is the authority for assigning investigating judges. Head of the Higher Judicial Council, Hossam Ghariani, stated that Egyptian judges are independent, however, the judiciary was not. "The judge should be independent and distance himself from the media, as it (the media) can sway public opinion and sometimes it is unfair", added Ghariani. Meanwhile, Negad El Borai, a political activist and one of the defendants' lawyers from the US-based Freedom House organisation demanded an indefinite postponement of the case until public opinion against the defendants had time to calm down, enabling the judges to issue a fair decision. In a phone call to the BBC, El Borai said he fears that sentences will be served on the Egyptian defendants so that the Egyptian judiciary can prove its independence after allowing the American defendants in the case to leave. He also believes that Egyptian defendants are innocent: "They just wanted to build their homes and future." El Borai disclosed that he submitted a complaint to Ghariani against investigative Judges Ashraf Ashmawy and Sameh Abu Zeid, for revealing details of the case to the media which wass against the law.